Unleash your SEO mojo: 3 steps to become dangerously effective

Are you among the 70% of small businesses not search engine optimizing their website? If you’re looking to enhance your online presence without breaking the bank, let’s break it down into 3 easy steps you can do yourself. 

These SEO strategies we are about to share with you are ones that you can easily implement yourself – you just need to set aside the time. With a little bit of research, execution, ongoing content creation, and analysis, you’ll be well on your way to optimizing your website and improving your search engine rankings.

Step One: Get to know your competition and do your research

SEO is like a fairy godmother for your website, helping it sparkle among the competition.  To begin, picture SEO as a magical dance that elevates your website in search engine results. When you strategically incorporate the perfect keywords (meaning doing your research and competitive analysis) you’ll witness a remarkable transformation.

With SEO working its charm, you’ll attract a steady stream of organic traffic, engage visitors, and skyrocket your click-through rates. Although SEO may seem complex and ever-changing, with the right moves, you can waltz your way to online success and leave search engines mesmerized.

Now, let’s dive into the research phase, starting with competitive analysis. Identify 2-3 competitors and analyze their website content. Pay attention to the keywords they target and how they incorporate them. Tools like Wordstream can assist in analyzing keywords and their search volumes.

Delve into your competitors on-page optimization by exploring elements visible in the page source. To do this, simply go to your Goggle browser window, and click View, then Developer, then View Source. Take note of title tags, which appear in search results, and meta descriptions that provide brief overviews. Header tags, like H1 and H2, structure content for both search engines and users. If scanning lines of code is bugging out your eyes, do a Find (control + F on a mac) for words like Title or H1 to zero in on these tags. Only pay attention to the copy that is between each opening tag <h1> and closing tag </h1>. You can ignore any copy styling you will see in there such as font size, coors, and margins. 

This is not a one and done practice! You’ll conduct regular SEO competitive analysis. DASH recommends setting quarterly reminders to do this research and refine your strategy.

Finally, cross-reference your competitors’ keywords using tools like Wordstream or Google’s Keyword Planner. Identify related keywords and consider their search volume and competition metrics. This cross-referencing helps refine your keyword strategy and increases your chances of ranking higher in search results.

Step 2: Craft Optimized Titles, Descriptions, Headers, and URL Formatting

With the research done,  it’s time to translate your findings into action by writing out your titles, descriptions, headers, and URLs. Let’s explore some essential tips for each element and how they contribute to your on-page SEO.

Titles:

Optimizing your page titles is crucial for on-page SEO success. Keep them concise, aiming for 60 characters or less, as search engines typically display titles of this length. Including your target keyword in the title, preferably at the beginning, enhances relevance. Be descriptive, accurately reflecting the page’s content, and use vertical bars (|) to separate phrases. Avoid keyword stuffing and, if applicable to your business, include your location.

Descriptions:

Crafting effective meta descriptions is key to improving click-through rates from search results. Similar to titles, keep them concise with 155 characters or less. Include your target keyword early on and accurately describe the page’s content while enticing users to click. Use action-oriented language to encourage specific actions, such as “Learn more” or “Get started.” Ensure each meta description is unique to its respective page to avoid duplicating content. 

Header Tags:

When working with header tags, stick to a 60-character count and have fun incorporating your keywords. Header tags, like H1 and H2, structure your content and assist both search engines and users in understanding the page’s topic. Don’t pick header tags based on their text size or style – edit that in your website design. Search engines assign value based on these tags, so use them accordingly.

URL Formatting:

Proper URL formatting significantly impacts your website’s SEO. Keep your URLs simple, descriptive, and easy to read. Use hyphens to separate words and include your target keyword when it makes sense. Always use lowercase letters and avoid including stop words (e.g., “the,” “and,” “of”) that add little value to the URL.

Miscellaneous SEO Tips:

Don’t overlook optimizing your images by using descriptive, keyword-rich file names that reflect their content. Alt tags provide descriptions of images to search engines and users who cannot see them. Include your target keyword in alt tags while accurately describing the image content.

Linking:

Links play a vital role in SEO by improving your website’s visibility and authority. Internal links help organize your site and distribute link equity, while external links from reputable websites enhance your credibility and authority. Focus on building a network of high-quality internal and external links to boost your search engine rankings and drive traffic.

Implementation:

Now that you have written your titles, descriptions, headers, and URLs, it’s time to input this information into your website. The process varies depending on your Content Management System (CMS). Some examples of this include WordPress, Shopify, and Squarespace. Research to your CMS for specific instructions on adding on-page SEO content to your website and individual pages.

By following these guidelines, you can create optimized titles, descriptions, headers, and URLs that improve the visibility, relevance, and click-through rates of your web pages in search results. Remember to focus on creating descriptive, concise, and user-friendly content that accurately reflects your page’s content and engages your audience.

Step 3: Analysis – Evaluating the Success of Your SEO Efforts

Time to dive into the nitty-gritty of analyzing your SEO performance! Here’s where the rubber hits the road and where you can truly ensure your website reaches new heights. Here’s your three-step playbook for SEO success evaluation:

Gear up with the right tools. Get yourself equipped with the power duo of Google Analytics and Google Search Console. These bad boys provide a treasure trove of data on organic traffic, user behavior, conversion rates, and search performance. Unleash the potential of these tools to understand your target audience, gain insights into your website’s visibility, and pinpoint areas for improvement. With this knowledge in hand, you’ll be ready to fine-tune your SEO strategy like a pro.

Keep an eagle eye on those search engine rankings. Don’t let your competitors steal the spotlight! Use Google Search Console or third-party rank tracking tools to stay on top of your target keywords’ performance. Keep tabs on your rankings and see where you stack up against the competition. Tracking those improvements in rankings is your secret weapon for measuring the effectiveness of your SEO efforts and maintaining your reign in the competitive landscape.

Fire up Google Analytics. It’s time to dive deep into organic traffic and conversion rates. Track your search trends in organic traffic like a seasoned detective, looking for those steady increases that signify the triumph of your SEO strategy. And let’s not forget about conversions! Set up specific goals within Google Analytics to measure how well your website turns visitors into engaged users and loyal customers. This data is the holy grail that reveals the true impact of your website’s performance.

With these three steps, you’ll find your SEO mojo in no time! Remember, SEO is an ongoing adventure, so keep monitoring, adapting, and crushing those goals. The digital landscape is your domain, and you have the power to conquer it!

Let’s make SEO magic together! We invite you to join us on Wednesday, June 28, for a free workshop dedicated to sharing the most effective SEO hacks. 

Learn how to bootstrap your SEO and make a significant impact on your online presence. Get practical tips, tricks, and strategies that you can implement right away. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the best in the industry and take your SEO game to new heights. 

Secure your spot today!